Artificial Urinary Sphincter in Newcastle
An artificial urinary sphincter is an implanted device used to help selected patients manage significant stress urinary incontinence. It is most often considered when urine leakage is caused by weakness of the urinary sphincter, particularly after prostate surgery.
Tyneside Urology Partners provides private assessment for artificial urinary sphincter treatment in Newcastle. Suitability depends on your symptoms, previous treatment, bladder function, manual dexterity, medical history and a specialist consultation.
What is an artificial urinary sphincter?
An artificial urinary sphincter is a small implanted device designed to help control urine leakage. It is used when the natural urinary sphincter, the muscle that helps keep urine in the bladder, is not working well enough.
Stress urinary incontinence happens when urine leaks during movement or pressure on the bladder. This may happen when coughing, sneezing, standing, lifting, exercising or changing position.
The artificial urinary sphincter usually includes a cuff placed around the urethra, a small pump and a fluid reservoir. The urethra is the tube that carries urine out of the body. The cuff helps keep the urethra closed. When you want to pass urine, you use the pump to temporarily open the cuff and allow urine to flow.
This treatment is most commonly discussed for men with moderate to severe stress urinary incontinence after prostate surgery, although individual suitability always needs careful assessment. It is not suitable for every type of urinary leakage.
Why an artificial urinary sphincter may be recommended
An artificial urinary sphincter may be recommended when stress urinary incontinence is significant, persistent and caused by sphincter weakness.
For some patients, urinary leakage improves with time, pelvic floor rehabilitation or other non-surgical measures. For others, leakage continues and affects everyday life, work, sleep, travel, exercise or confidence.
An artificial urinary sphincter may be considered when other approaches have not provided enough improvement or when a specialist assessment suggests it may be more suitable than other continence procedures.
It is a surgical treatment and involves an implanted device, so the decision should be made carefully. Your clinician will explain the possible benefits, risks, limitations and alternatives before any treatment is agreed.
Who an artificial urinary sphincter is for
An artificial urinary sphincter may be suitable for selected patients with significant stress urinary incontinence. Specialist assessment may be helpful if you:
- Leak urine when standing, coughing, sneezing or moving
- Have significant leakage after prostate surgery
- Use pads or continence products because of ongoing leakage
- Have leakage that affects daily life, work, exercise or sleep
- Have tried pelvic floor rehabilitation without enough improvement
- Have sphincter weakness confirmed or suspected after assessment
- Have had previous continence treatment that has not helped enough
- Want to discuss surgical options for stress urinary incontinence
- Are able to understand and operate a pump device
- Have been advised to consider an artificial urinary sphincter after specialist review
An artificial urinary sphincter is not usually used for urgency incontinence alone. Urgency incontinence is leakage linked to a sudden need to pass urine. Some patients have mixed symptoms, so bladder assessment is important before treatment planning.
Symptoms an artificial urinary sphincter can help assess
An artificial urinary sphincter is usually considered for stress urinary incontinence linked to sphincter weakness. Symptoms can overlap with other bladder conditions, so a clear diagnosis is important.
Some men experience urinary leakage after prostate surgery, including surgery for prostate cancer or benign prostate enlargement. If leakage persists, assessment can help identify whether sphincter weakness is contributing.
Stress leakage may happen when standing, walking, lifting, bending, exercising, coughing or sneezing. This can be particularly difficult if symptoms are unpredictable or frequent.
Some people need regular pads or continence products to manage leakage. A specialist review can help discuss whether treatment options are available and which may be suitable.
Pelvic floor rehabilitation may help some patients, but it is not enough for everyone. If symptoms continue, further assessment may be needed before considering surgery.
Urgency, frequency and night-time urination can occur alongside stress leakage. These symptoms may need separate assessment because an artificial urinary sphincter is designed to treat sphincter-related leakage, not all bladder symptoms.
What to expect
Artificial urinary sphincter treatment is planned after detailed assessment. Your clinician will explain how the device works, what the operation involves and what recovery may be like.
You will begin with a consultation to discuss your symptoms, previous surgery, previous continence treatment and how leakage affects daily life.
Your clinician may ask about:
- When leakage happens
- How many pads you use
- Whether leakage occurs with activity or urgency
- Whether you can empty your bladder well
- Previous prostate, bladder or urethral surgery
- Previous radiotherapy
- Urinary tract infections
- Urethral stricture history
- Current medication
- General health and fitness for surgery
Assessment may include a urine test, bladder diary, pad use review, bladder scan, urine flow test, flexible cystoscopy or urodynamic testing. Not every patient needs every test. Your clinician will explain which assessments are appropriate and why.
Before surgery, your clinician will explain the expected benefits, possible risks, device limitations and alternative options. You should have time to ask questions before giving consent.
Your clinical team may review your medicines, including blood-thinning treatment, and check for urinary infection. Any infection may need treatment before surgery.
It is also important that you can use the device pump. This usually requires enough hand strength, coordination and understanding to operate it reliably. Your clinician will discuss this during assessment.
Artificial urinary sphincter surgery is performed under anaesthetic. The exact surgical approach can vary depending on anatomy, previous surgery and the device being used.
The operation usually involves placing a cuff around the urethra, a small pump that can be operated by hand and a reservoir that holds fluid. In men, the pump is usually placed in the scrotum. Your clinician will explain the planned approach for your situation.
The device is usually left deactivated while tissues heal after surgery. This means it does not start controlling leakage immediately. Your clinician will explain when the device may be activated and how you will be taught to use it.
After surgery, you will be given advice about wound care, activity, pain relief and when to seek help. Recovery varies depending on your general health, previous surgery and the procedure performed.
You may have swelling, bruising or discomfort around the surgical area. These symptoms usually improve gradually, but you should follow the advice given by your clinical team.
The device is usually activated at a later follow-up appointment after healing. At that appointment, you will be shown how to operate the pump and what to do if you have any problems.
You may still need some continence protection after treatment. The aim is usually to improve leakage, but results vary and complete dryness cannot be guaranteed.
Benefits of an artificial urinary sphincter
An artificial urinary sphincter may be a useful option for selected patients with significant stress urinary incontinence caused by sphincter weakness.
Designed for sphincter weakness
The device is designed to support continence when the natural urinary sphincter is not working well enough. This can be particularly relevant after some prostate operations.
May reduce stress leakage
For suitable patients, an artificial urinary sphincter may reduce leakage during movement, coughing, standing or activity. The degree of improvement varies.
Can help when other measures have not worked
It may be considered when pelvic floor rehabilitation, pads or other approaches have not provided enough control.
Offers patient-controlled urination
The pump allows the user to open the cuff when they want to pass urine. This means patient understanding and ability to use the pump are important parts of suitability assessment.
Part of personalised continence care
An artificial urinary sphincter is one of several treatment options for urinary incontinence. Your clinician will consider your symptoms, test results, previous surgery and priorities before recommending a plan.
Risks and side effects
All surgery carries risks, and an artificial urinary sphincter also involves an implanted device. Your clinician will explain your individual risks before treatment.
Possible risks and side effects may include:
- Pain, swelling or bruising after surgery
- Bleeding
- Wound infection
- Urinary tract infection
- Difficulty passing urine
- Urinary retention
- Device infection
- Device erosion into the urethra
- Urethral damage or narrowing
- Device mechanical failure
- Need for device adjustment, revision or replacement
- Need for device removal in some cases
- Persistent leakage
- Leakage returning over time
- New or worsening urgency symptoms
- Discomfort from the pump or device components
- Anaesthetic risks
Some complications may require further surgery. Your clinician will explain what symptoms to look out for and when to seek urgent help.
You should seek urgent medical advice if you cannot pass urine, develop a high temperature, feel very unwell, have severe pain, heavy bleeding, wound discharge or rapidly worsening symptoms.
Alternatives to an artificial urinary sphincter
An artificial urinary sphincter is not the only option for urinary incontinence. The most suitable approach depends on the type and severity of leakage, bladder function and previous treatment.
Alternatives may include:
- Pelvic floor rehabilitation
- Bladder training if urgency symptoms are present
- Continence pads or collecting devices
- Lifestyle changes where relevant
- Male sling surgery in selected patients
- Urethral bulking treatments in selected cases
- Autologous fascial sling in selected patients
- Bladder injection therapy if overactive bladder symptoms are present
- Catheter options in specific circumstances
- Further investigation before deciding on treatment
If your symptoms are mainly urgency, frequency or overactive bladder rather than stress leakage, other treatments may be more appropriate.
Your clinician will discuss the realistic benefits and limitations of each option.
Private artificial urinary sphincter treatment near Newcastle
Tyneside Urology Partners provides private assessment for artificial urinary sphincter treatment near Newcastle from its clinic in Team Valley, Tyne & Wear. The clinic serves patients from Newcastle, Gateshead, Tyneside and across the North East.
A consultation gives you the opportunity to discuss urinary leakage, previous prostate or continence treatment, bladder testing and surgical options in a specialist setting. Your clinician can explain whether an artificial urinary sphincter may be suitable and how it compares with other continence treatments.
Frequently asked questions
- What is an artificial urinary sphincter used for?
An artificial urinary sphincter is used to help manage stress urinary incontinence caused by weakness of the urinary sphincter. It is most often discussed for men with significant leakage after prostate surgery, although suitability depends on specialist assessment.
- How does an artificial urinary sphincter work?
The device uses a cuff to help keep the urethra closed. When you want to pass urine, you operate a small pump to open the cuff temporarily. Your clinician will explain how the device works and whether you would be able to use it safely.
- Is an artificial urinary sphincter suitable for urgency incontinence?
It is not usually used for urgency incontinence alone. Urgency leakage is linked to a sudden need to pass urine and may need different treatment. If you have mixed symptoms, your clinician may recommend bladder tests before discussing surgery.
- Will I be dry straight after surgery?
No. The device is usually left switched off while tissues heal. It is activated later at a follow-up appointment. Leakage improvement varies, and some patients may still need pads or further support after treatment.
- Will I need tests before treatment?
Yes, assessment is important before artificial urinary sphincter surgery. Tests may include urine testing, bladder scan, urine flow test, flexible cystoscopy or urodynamic testing. Your clinician will explain which tests are needed in your case.
- Can the device fail or need replacing?
Yes. An artificial urinary sphincter is an implanted mechanical device, so it can wear out, fail or need revision in the future. Some patients may need further surgery to adjust, replace or remove the device.
- Can I have artificial urinary sphincter treatment in Newcastle?
Tyneside Urology Partners provides private assessment for artificial urinary sphincter treatment near Newcastle. Your clinician can advise whether it may be suitable and discuss other continence treatment options.
Get support for urinary leakage in Newcastle
If urinary leakage is affecting your daily life after prostate surgery or because of sphincter weakness, specialist assessment can help identify your options.
